Daily Log

Woke up after 8, but couldn't go back to sleep. Got up around 9. Finished reading the Neiman book. Thinking about the genocide essay. Didn't bother even trying to go back to bed, so came down around 9:30. It's going to be a long day. Music Week post is almost done, so that should go up today, fairly early. Meanwhile, I'll work a bit on the jigsaw, then breakfast, then see what I can do.

Email (164 unread in inbox, looks like 13 from today):

• Substack: Music Week (10:1): 2 likes.
• Brian Morton: Thoughts on Tennessee.
• Robert Christgau: Xgau Sez: October, 2026. So no making up for missing September. Didn't include my jazz question.

Daily Log

Came down at 11:45. Reading Neiman: against Marxism, but in favor of socialism. Could be worth a post on its own. Did the cutoff for Music Week. Plenty albums rated (40), but only one new A-list, plus one old music from the 1996 search. Decided I would play Kevin Sun this morning. If it (actually two albums) rates, I could still have time to pick it up. Otherwise, I may try Tinashe again, but I doubt another spin will move my mind. In any case, Music Week must go out today. I'm leaning more and more toward actually writing up the "gentler genocide" piece, so that may be next.

Email (277 unread in inbox, most old):

• Substack: Loose Tabs (9); shareable assets; 1 like; 1 comment ("That's a lot of truly worthless people in that photo."); stats: 1 like, 1 comment, 1 restack, 136 email views, 24 other views. Music Week (10:1); shareable assets; September 2026 stats: 161 subscribers (+6), 1157 post reads (-45).
• Karen Kurtz (Farmers Insurance): Thanks for being a great customer. Actually, we're just stuck, and none too happy for that.
• Chuck Eddy: . . . And a Dollar Short (For a Few Dollars More): This got me interested enough to click on "150 Best Albums of 1991," but you have to have the Substack App to "claim your free article."
• Robert Wright: The Singularity is Clear: Part III: The Inexorable Logic of International Governance. "Inexorable" only if you assume a happy ending. Some reason to doubt that.
• Mike Konczal: Is The Actual Inflation Rate PCE and High or CPI and Low? We normally fight about what goes in the basket; this is a debate about which is the correct overall measure.
• Tom Carson: Our Nixon (obituary from 1994). Key line: "Oh, how we hated him!" And: "There are still millions of people in their forties and older whose political self-esteem is founded on their hatred of Nixon."

Music Week

Expanded blog post, October archive (in progress).

Tweet: Music Week: 40 albums, 4 A-list

Music: Current count 46680 [46640] rated (+40), 31 [25] unrated +6).

Advance Music Week appeared October 3 on Substack as Music Week (10:1). It is also archived here. My cutoff was done before the Substack post, but the introduction is revised/rewritten.

New records reviewed this week:

• 1-800-Mikey: In Yun (2026, Goner): [sp]: B+(*)
• RJ Chesney: A Southern Man (2026, Man of Straw): [sp]: B+(**)
• Mike Dana Jazz Orchestra: Farther (Still) (2025 [2026], Origin): [cd]
• Defcee & Steel Tipped Dove: We Will Be Brief (2026, Fused Arrow): [sp]: A−
• Daniel DeLorenzo: Can You Not (2026, self-released): [cd]: B+(**)
• Dinosaur Jr.: Near There (2026, Jagjaguwar): [sp]: B+(*)
• FaithNYC: Love Is a Wish Away (2024, Creation Youth): [sp]: B+(**)
• Diego Figuerido: Horse Blues (2026, Arbors): [sp]: B+(**)
• Chad Fowler/Eri Yamamoto: Polkadots & Moonbeams (2024 [2026], Mahakala Music): [bc]: B+(**)
• Shelley Hirsch/Christian Weber/Alfred Vogel: Vanish (2024 [2026], Boomslang): [sp]: B+(**)
• Katseye: Wild (2026, HYBE/Geffen, EP): [sp]: B+(**)
• Azar Lawrence: Turn the Music Up (2026, Trazar): [cd]: B+(**)
• Carla Marciano: Daydreaming: My Beloved Father Giovanni (2025 [2026], Challenge): [cd]: B+(**)
• Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves: Dedicated to You (2026, Blue Note): [sp]: B+(*)
• Gretechen Parlato: The Wise Ones (2026, Edition): [sp]: B+(*)
• Houston Person: From the Heart (2026, Arbors): [sp]: B+(***)
• Polyfillas: An Assortment of Punk Originals (2026, Dangerous): [cd]: A−
• Julian Davis Reid and Circle of Trust: Mercy We Need (2026, Too Lost): [cd]: B+(*)
• Andy Sheppard: Salt Catchers (2025 [2026], ECM): [sp]: B+(*)
• Bria Skonberg: Indigo (2025 [2026], Cellar): [sp]: B+(***)
• Skyzoo & Apollo Brown: Luxury Tax (2026, First Generation Rich/Escapism) [sp]: B+(**)
• Wadada Leo Smith: Constellations and Hemispheres (2017-22 [2026], Burning Ambulance Music): [bc]: B+(***)
• Tinashe: Popstar (2026, Atlantic): [sp]: B+(***)
• Tres Hongos: More Chips (2024 [2026], Relative Pitch): [sp]: B+(**)
• Lex Walton: Ultimate Love Forever (2026, Sub Pop, EP): [sp]: B+(**)

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries:

• Cameron Brown and Dannie's Calypso: Remembrance (2011 [2026], Sunnyside): [bc]: A−
• Jon Waine: Second Skin (1975-1983) (1975-83 [2026], Corbett vs. Dempsey): [bc]: B+(***)
• John Larkin: Before Scatman: Early Sessions (1978 [2026], Iceberg, EP): [sp]: B+(*)

Old music:

• Lola Beltrán: Voz E Inspiracion (1975, Peerless): [yt]: B+(**)
• Daniel DeLorenzo: Trio (2017, self-released): [bc]: B+(**)
• Fine Young Cannibals: The Finest (1985-89 [1996], MCA): [sp]: A−
• Fine Young Cannibals: The Finest: The Rare and the Remixed (1985-89 [1996], MCA): [sp]: B+(*)
• F.S.K.: International (1995 [1996], Sub-Up): [sp]: B+(**)
• Violeta Parra: Las Últimas Composiciones De Violeta Parra (1966, RCA): [sp]: B+(***)
• Astor Piazzolla: Sonfonia De Tango (1955, Disques Vogue, EP): [sp]: B+(**)
• Scatman John: Scatman's World (1995, RCA): [sp]: B+(*)
• Idrissa Soumaoro & L'Eclipse De L'I.J.A.: Le Tioko-Tioko (1978, Eterna): [sp]: B+(**)
• Zuhura Swaleh/Matano Juma & Orchestra Morning Star: Karama Zijiri (1973, Pwani): [yt]: B+(**)
• Caetano Veloso: Bicho (1977, Philips): [sp]: B+(***)
• Yellow Magic Orchestra: Yellow Magic Orchestra (1978, Alfa): [sp]: B+(*)
• Yellow Magic Orchestra: Solid State Survivor (1979, Alfa): [sp]: B+(**)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

• Stephen Braude With Yamara Band: Big Dipper (self-released) [10-01]
• Roni Eytan: Melody People (PKmusik) [10-30]
• Giveton Gelin: Island Dreamer: III of III (ID) [11-01]
• Clay Giberson: Moment's Notice (Origin) [10-23]
• Danny Green: Let the Music Happen (OA2) [10-23]
• Clarence Hines Jazz Orchestra: Along the Way (OA2) [10-23]
• Devra Hoff: Baile as Baile (AUM Fidelity) [10-16]
• Reza Khan: Shadow Dancers (Painted Media) [10-30]
• James Brandon Lewis/Red Lily: Calling Antonin (TAO Forms) [10-23]
• William Parker: Waltz for Gregory (AUM Fidelity) [10-09]
• Matthew Shipp/William Parker: A Whole System Of (TAO Forms) [11-06]
• Ron Vincent: Ray's Hat Trick (Origin) [10-23]

Daily Log

Woke up after 10, and came down at 10:50, after reading Nieman on Gaza and starting the chapter on "woke." More hip pain than I've had since Monday, so I took some ibuprofen along with the usual acetominiphen. Rain stopped, skies are blue, and it's 60F outside. Laura asked for the heat to be turned on, but I'm not feeling the need as yet. Nearing completion of the Substack bit on Loose Tabs. Surely I'll get that done today. But work may be slow, both because I'm starting slow and because I'm expecting Doug to come over to work around the house. I want to trim some dead branches from the ash by the street. I also want to hose down the siding and windows, and clear the clutter from the flat roof. I might expect to work on this, but the way I feel right now, I may just turn him loose. New jigsaw puzzle. This one is going to go a bit slower. Mostly grays, although details will emerge when we look closely. I'm probably putting Music Week off to tomorrow. I did move the new reviews to the October archive, so it will be "(10-1)" instead of "(9-5)."

Email (261 in inbox, many from yesterday):

• TomDispatch: David Vine: The Pentagon's Secret Budget

Daily Log

Slept ok: over 6 hours, AHI 1.5, 100 score. Read a good chunk of Niemann on selling the Red Scare, or Bernays on propaganda. I put Loose Tabs up last night, with minimal fanfare. I'm working on a Substack piece to go with it, but didn't get very far. I'll work more on that today. I won't worry about Music Week until tomorrow: no problem, as my floating date seems to have centered on Friday, and I've been slow accumulating reviews this week.

Email: looked at some stuff, but didn't take notes.

Daily Log

Slept to about 10:30. AHI was down to 1.0, so my six hours scored 100. Read, and came down at 11:15. Definitely have to finish Loose Tabs today. Still raining today. This seems to be related to the flooding in Arizona yesterday, which has led to flood watches today from northern New Mexico to Iowa, and for most of Texas. The former map appears to cross Kansas north of Wichita (Great Bend and Salina), while we are under a "hazardous weather outlook."

Email (196 unread in inbox):

• Substack: +1 subscriber.
• Substack Model Behavior: interview with George Saunders about how he uses AI. He doesn't. Picture of his desk has a lot of papers, but no computer screen. Nothing helpful here.
• Tom Carson: Section Intro: The Call: On Pauline Kael (1919-2001), Louise Michel (1830-1905), Norman Mailer (1923-2007), and James Wolcot, who's still around somewhere.

Loose Tabs

Pick up text from here.

Daily Log

Woke up after 9. Read some, and went back to bed. It was 12:30 when I finally got up. Just shy of 8 hours, but only 90 on the machine, as AHI was 5.0. Sat down here after 1. I should put some 1996 music on, then work on the new jigsaw until I get around to breakfast. Dark and raining outside. Little to do today, other than to try to send a ballot in for Brad Luen's 1996 poll, and to post Loose Tabs. I may try to write up a Substack post as I read back through what I have in Loose Tabs. All that's assuming I can do some normal work today, which isn't certain.

Email (211 in inbox):

• Substack: Music Week (9:4): +1 like. +1 subscriber.
• Tom Carson: The Custom of the Country: Thoughts About Writing About Various Presidents; Punk Defined.
• Robert Wright: The Singularity Is Clear: Part II: The roots and branches of acceleration.
• Tom Engelhardt: "Our" (Once All Too Literally) Unimaginable President: And a World That Scares the Hell Out of Me.
• Cam Patterson responded, saying "I don't think you need a cardiologist."

Daily Log

I recovered fairly well yesterday from the pain I woke up with. I carried the cane around, but didn't need it. I took more tylenol and ibuprofen than normal, but didn't seek out the prednisone. I took it easy, and we finished the jigsaw puzzle. I took the dog for a walk. We watched the final two episodes of Neagley. I wrote a bit on Loose Tabs, and moved the draft file into place for publication. But then I got distracted by Brad Luen's 1996 poll. I had an old list, but made a new search, and started to come up with a new list. Most notable thing there is the huge number of reissues/old music.

I woke up twice during the night, then for good at 9:15. I didn't need the cane to move around. I took tylenol the second time, so I switched to ibuprofen for the third. Some pain now, but not debilitating. I plan to take it easy again, but do have some things to write. I've started Susan Niemann's Call It Evil, which is really good. It's basically my "America breaks bad" thesis, but on a higher level. Much of it is immediately quotable.

Email (211 in inbox):

• Michael Steinman: A box of bliss: The Complete Louis Armstrong in New York 1924-1925.
• Brad Luen: Odds & Ends 1956: some jazz I know, and some other stuff I don't.
• Substack: Music Week (9:4): +1 like.
• Ernesto Cervini offered to send a CD, so I said, "sure."
• Tom Carson: Envoi: At long last, my collected poems. Both of them. Earlier: The Yobbess (on Roseanne Barr, but ranges wide).
• Brian JW Morton: Pick of the Month - September 26
• Matty Wishnow confirmed that we're getting promo tickets to see The Last Critic on Oct. 17, at Tallgrass Film Festival.
• Reminder from Wallgrens that my "Rx is ready." Still just two of five prescriptions.
• I wrote up my cardiologist question and mailed it to Cam.

Daily Log

Woke up about 4:30, 59 minutes on the machine, in excruciating pain. This was my hip pain (actually, sacroilliac dysfunction), which I've had for 5+ years, but mostly been moderated sufficiently with tylenol when I got up, sometimes with 2 more in the evening. I took 2 at the time, and with great awkwardness and considerable pain maneuvered myself into the bathroom: I was very week standing, and depended on my arms for support wherever I could find some (my toolchest, the bed, various book and CD cases, and the vanity and rails in the bathroom itself). Raising myself from the toilet has always been the worst part. In the past, that's when I realized I had the problem, but this time it was just more of what I was already experiencing. I clawed my way back to bed, and tried going back to sleep. I turned the AC on, for good measure. I slept some on my side. I got up a couple hours later, making the same bathroom trip, but brought my book this time, and read some. I couldn't finish my last chapter, so I still have work to do on that. When I got back to bed, I told Laura what was happening. I took 2 ibuprofen, which is usually a bit more effective. I tried sleeping again, but managed little. I finally got up around 11. Laura found me a cane, which helped for the section with few and low hand holds. I took a shower. After that, I was able to walk, somewhat awkwardly, with the cane, so I looked in the closets for the walker (we have such things). I finally tried coming down the stairs, carrying the cane, my book, and water. It wasn't too bad.

I found the walker in a downstairs closet. I don't particularly need it, but could have used it last night. We'll eventually haul it upstairs. I sat down at the computer to write this much, and that's been ok so far, but I don't expect to do much writing today, or much of anything else. This has been rather traumatic, and my plan is to take it as easy as possible. I'll start by playing some comfort music, and working on jigsaw puzzle. Beyond that, we'll see. I wrote to Cam Patterson, and got his approval to field some advice questions, so that's a relative priority. I've been wanting to set up a dinner this week, but I'm in no shape to do that right now.

I did a software update, and rebooted, so had to organize the workspaces again.

I moved the temporary file into a proper Loose Tabs file.

Email (238 in inbox):

• Substack: Music Week (9:4): Daily stats show just 1 like, which is a big drop from the usual 4-6; +1 like (Bill Scorzari). +1 subscriber.
• Project Syndicate: some interesting articles I don't have time (or stomach) for.
• Amazon: book delivered.

I ran out of my usual thin bread, so for lunch I took a small can of sockeye salmon, added chopped shallot, capers, black olives, dill pickles, mayonnaise, dill, paprika, sumac, and black pepper (no salt added). Came out very tasty.

Daily Log

Woke up after 10. Read some, most of the AI chapter in Acemoglu, leaving one chapter left on "Working Class Liberalism." Came down at 11:15. I posted Music Week to Substack last night, but didn't do any promo links. I suspect my own interest is flagging. I should knock the blog version out today. Then, presumably, more Loose Tabs. Tomorrow would be a good day to push that out. I asked Doug to come over and trim the tree and clean up around the house, but he can't do that until Tuesday. Running out of September. I've been assuming I need to start prepping for Jazz Critics Poll in October, so that is well nigh upon us. Only thing I'm actually looking forward to in October is my birthday dinner. Israel elections two days later. US elections a week or two after that.

Email (268 unread in inbox):

• Substack: Music Week (9:4): shareable assets; 1 like; stats: 1 like, 0 comments, 0 restacks, 140 email views, 39 other views.
• RiotRiot: Yes: Jeff Evans Porkestra [A-], Sweeping Promises [A-], Tinashe, Downtown Boys, Mountain Goats [***], This Is Lorelei [***], Sweet Pill [*], Neil Young: As Time Explodes [A-], Neil Young: Second Song [A-], Carly Pearce [***], Dinosaur Jr, Lex Walton, Golems of the Red Planet [***], Tipps and Obermiller [A-]; Maybe: Wednesday, Tubs [*], Westside Cowboy [**], Phoebe Bridgers [***], CS Cleaners [***], WU LYF, Chat Pile, Katseye; No: Nirosta Steel.
• Dreamspider: I replied to their Bill Scorzari plug, noting my NOEL review.
• Walgreens: Two prescriptions ready for pickup. Should be five. Running out of refills. I called them to straighten that out.
• Cuneiform: Ray Russell: Dangerous Bends bandcamp code. Downloaded.

Daily Log

Came down at 10:45. Woke up a bit after 10, 95 on the machine, from a dream where I was living in a glass-windowed skyscraper, which was being attacked by by people descending on lines from the roof. I couldn't open the windows. I thought that if I had a gun, I could shoot some of them, but I didn't. Presumably at some lower level they would break through the glass and invade, but we didn't get that far.

The Toyota has been complaining about low air pressure in the right rear tire. When I measured this, I got 29 psi, so I figured we could drive on that, but eventually I should add some air. I finally went to QuikTrip yesterday, and was dismayed to find that their air machine didn't have any sort of gauge. I had a little battery-powered gauge with an LED display. I had to replace the battery to get it to work at all, and once it did, it would only stay on for a few seconds. In bright sunlight, it was hard to see the numbers. And, of course, it was hard to get down to tire level, so the whole thing was very uncomfortable. I eventually got three tires to 33-34 psi, but the fourth read 24, so I kept pumping air into it until I hit 34. I then fiddled with the dashboard until I found the tire pressure screen: three measured 34-35, but the fourth showed 51 psi. I (correctly) surmised that the gauge had switched to kilograms. I had by then decided that I wanted an analogue gauge, one that would register pressure unambiguously, and visibly under all cases. I had several such gauges somewhere at home, but went to Autozone, and bought a new one. It included a button to bleed air pressure down, which I used.

That whole thing took a couple of hours: my big accomplishment for the day. I went to Thai House and picked up some dinner, and came home. The only other thing I got done was some Loose Tabs. Today the priority will be Music Week. I don't have much to show for the week, but I do have a lot to complain about.

Email (238 unread in inbox, many old):

• I hear I have a Meta Account now, which "works across Meta apps and devices, making it easier to log in, control settings and keep your info secure." Gee thanks. The only such account I have is on Facebook.
• Amazon: I ordered the new Susan Niemann book, Call It Evil: Understanding the Trump Era. Maybe I won't need to write my own book.

Music Week

Expanded blog post, September archive (in progress).

Tweet: Music Week: 38 albums, 14 A-list

Music: Current count 46640 [46602] rated (+38), 25 [23] unrated +2).

Advance Music Week appeared September 25 on Substack as Music Week (9:4). It is also archived here. My cutoff was done before the Substack post, but the introduction is revised/rewritten.

New records reviewed this week:

• Terry Allen: Blood Sucking Maniacs (2026, Paradise of Bachelors): [sp]: B+(**)
• Lucian Ban & Elevation: Rush (2024 [2026], Sunnyside): [sp]: B+(**)
• Ran Blake: Voices (2023 [2026], Tzadik): [cd]: B+(***)
• George Garzone: Themes for Good Friends (2026, Jojo): [sp]: B+(**)
• Ned Hill Band: Saw Jesus at the Park (2026, self-released, EP): [sp]: B+(*)
• The Hobknobs: Helmets Off (2026, 12XU/THK): [sp]: B+(**)
• Lenny Kaye: Goin' Local (2026, Yep Roc): [sp]: B+(**)
• Takashi Matsunaga: Ride Five (2026, Ride Five): [cd]: B+(**)
• My Face Is Dancing: My Face Is Dancing (2021-25 [2026], 577/Positive Elevation): [dl]: B+(*)
• Angela O'Neill and the Outrageous 8: A Live Musical Tribute to Peggy Lee (2024 [2026], Outrageous 8): [cd]: B+(**)
• Matthew Putnam/Hilliard Greene/Francisco Mela: Bright Sun Outside (2025 [2026], 577): [os]: B+(**)
• Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra: Royalty: The Music of Duke Ellington & Count Basie (2026, T2 Music): [cd]: B+(***)
• Tricky: Different When It's Silent (2026, False Idols): [sp]: B+(*)
• Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts: Second Song (2026, Reprise): [sp]: A−

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries:

• Amiri Baraka: New Music ~ New Poetry (1982 [2026], Modern Harmonic): [bc]: A−
• Ella Fitzgerald: Live at the Falkoner Theatre Copenhagen 6th February 1966 (1966 [2026], Gearbox): [sp]: A−

Old music:

• Sunny Ade & His African Beats: The Master Guitarist Vol. 11: Sunny Ti De (1974, African Songs): [yt]: A−
• Nelson Angelo/Joyce: Nelson Angelo E Joyce (1972, Odeon): [sp]: B+(**)
• Bembeya Jazz National: Hommage À Demba Camara (1974 [2000], Sylla): [sp]: A−
• Nat King Cole: Unforgettable (1946-54 [1954], Capitol): [sp]: B+(*)
• Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe: Lo Mato (1973, Fania): [sp]: B+(***)
• Celia Cruz: The 'Brillante': Best of Celia Cruz With the Orchestras of Johnny Pacheco & Willie Colon (1974-77 [1978], Yaya): [sp]: A−
• Aracy De Almeida: Noel Rosa (1950-54 [2002], Continental EastWest/Warner): [sp]: B+(**)
• Heitor Dos Prazeres/Jorge Fernandes/Ataulfo Alves/João Da Baiana: Macumba (1958, Fantasia): [sp]: A−
• Heitor Dos Prazeres E Sua Gente: Macumba (1955, Discos Rádio, EP): [sp]: B+(***)
• Antonio Carlos Jobim/Luis Bonfa: Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) [The Original Sound Track of the Movie] (1959 [1960], Epic): [sp]: A−
• Los Calvos: . . . Y Que Calvos! (1968, RCA): [sp]: B+(***)
• Los Calvos: Estos Son Los Calvos (1967, RCA): [sp]: A−
• E.T. Mensah and His Tempos Band: Tempos on the Beat (1959, Decca): [yt]: B+(***)
• Anita O'Day: Anita (1955, Verve): [sp]: A−
• Hermeto Pascoal: Slaves Mass (1977 [2004], Warner Bros./Rhino): [sp]: B+(***)
• Le Seigneur Rochereau & L'Afrisa International: À L'Olympia (Paris) 1970 (1970 [1997], African): [sp]: A−
• Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Hotel Le Prince (2009 [2022], Jam-All Productions): [bc]: B+(***)
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe: Gospel Train (1956, Mercury): [sp]: A
• Toots and the Maytals: Sweet and Dandy (1969, Beverley's): [sp]: A−
• Papa Wemba & L'Orchestre Viva La Musica: Mabele Mokonzi (Elou) (1976-77 [1978], Special Molokai): [yt]: B+(***)
• Edmundo P. Zaldivar (H): Carnavalitos (1955, Pampa, EP): [yt]: A−
• Tom Zé: Imprensa Cantada (2003, Trama): [sp]: B+(*)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

• Rodrigo Amado/This Is Our Language Quartet: Wailers (European Echoes) [A−]
• David Maranha/Rodrigo Amado: Desolation Row (Comets Coming) [A−]
• Jason Robinson: Blue Salience: For Yusef Lateef (2026, Circumvention Music) [10-29]
• Jamie Safir: Momentum (Chill Tone) [09-04]
• Trio Imagination: Creative Inspirations (Pi) [09-25]
• UNLV Combos: Back Home (Vegas) [11-01]
• UNLV Jazz 1: My Favorite Things (Vegas) [11-01]

Daily Log

Came down at 11, after reading about "social engineering." I'm in a rut, getting very little done, irresolute in my ambitions. I should at least whip up a Music Week, although I have little to report. The least I can do is to work on jigsaw, at least until I'm ready for breakfast.

Email (205 unread in inbox; I've been whittling this down, but I have at least 30 new messages today; I'm still getting errors on failed IMAP sync operations, but I suspect they get repaired later on):

• Walgreens working on refills. Do I need to talk to them?
• Project Syndicate: The AI Productivity Delusion (Yanis Varoufakis sees the technology converting markets into fiefs and profits into rents, ending capitalism as we know it).
• Got PR from Gary Barve, who has an album I Am Elvis, but more curiously declares himself as a Republican, a candidate for "the 48th presidency of the United States of America," with a book (One Nation Under God), and other notes of extreme right-wing conceit.
• Jacobin: The Left should start using the word "evil"; Susan Neiman has a book, Call It Evil: Understanding the Trump Era.
• TomDispatch: Joshua Frank: Green Energy Is Coming for the Desert

Daily Log

Another unpleasant night, but not as bad as the previous. Woke up after 9. Read Acemoglu blaming the left for Mao's Cultural Revolution and trying to "deplatform" US university critics of DEI. Woke up thinking about the "gentler genocide" piece.

Email (257 unread, still working on it):

• Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide: September, 2026: Mostly albums I've already heard/graded, mostly graded differently, some up (Margaret Glaspy A- to A+, Rolling Stones A- to A, Twisted Teens *** to A-), some down (Jeff Evans Porkestra A- to *, Olivia Rodrigo A- to B+, Bill Scorzari A to B+, Vince Staples A- to **), some similar (Open Mike Eagle ** to B+), some unheard (Terry Allen, RJ Chesney, FaithNYC, Hobknobs, Lenny Kaye, Tricky, Neil Young, Tom Zé [2003]). I added notice to website.
• Robert Wright: The Singularity Is Clear: Part I of a four-part series.
• Gene Seymour: Five Less-Travelled Trane Tracks
• Mike Konczal: Can We Find Literally Any Sign Deportations Are Helping Native-Born Workers?
• Tom Carson: Unka Steven's Bang-Bang Boo-Hoo World War II: Saving Private Ryan, reconsidered in 1999 and now re-reconsidered.

Daily Log

I had a horrible fucking night. Went to bed early. Got up multiple times. Had trouble breathing. Had mask leaks. Swapped out the cushion in the middle of the night, and turned the AC on. Wound up at 100, with over 7 hours, but it was a relief to finally get up and stay up. Read some. Thinking much about Weird book. Wondering whether Trump ever had a real definition of what "make America great again" meant. Thinking I should soft peddle the left critique of America, stressing that we have a few problems that can and should be easily improved, while most of whatever we need and want is alrealdy within reach.

Email (296 unread in inbox, 28 from today; new IMAP account is set up and working, so I can read mail through Thunderbird; still some kinks to work out: main thing seems to be that I need to move the old account messages into Local Folders, so I can delete the account):

• Tom Carson: Ramones: Rocket to Russia; previewed [09-20] by The Ramones, starring in Political Science: The Musical. So, Carson got into Stranded, but I didn't? I wasn't unknown when he first appeared
• Nationwide Medical: I ordered replacement cushions and filters. Took me a while to figure out how to turn things off.
• NYT has a reader's poll of the top 100 TV shows since 2000. Jeffrey St Clair's ballot: Twin Peaks: The Return; The Wire; Shogun; Deadwood; Reservation Dogs; The Americans; Slow Horses; Chernobyl; Atlanta; Breaking Bad. I don't recall 1; gave up on 9; also gave up on 10, but returned and hate-watched it to the end. I also missed some episodes in the early days of 6.

More email work (adding to this over later days):

1. Under the old thull2@cox.net account, I emptied the Trash and Spam directories. I created a new Local Folders folder for Cox, and under that, I created subfolders: Old Inbox, Old Archives, and Old Sent. The idea is to move what's left of the old account messages to the new Cox folders.

2. I cleared out the old Archives folders, either by deleting or by moving messages ito Local Folders.

3. I cleared out the old Drafts folder. I moved one message to the Drafts folder under thull2@tomhull.com. I accidentally moved the rest to the new Drafts folder, so they got copied back to Yahoo. Something to deal with later. The time delay was obvious, but the operation worked. That leaves Inbox and Sent to be cleared out.

Daily Log

Woke up early, at 9, with less than 5 hours of sleep. Read some, then tried going back to sleep. Must have slept some, as I woke up from a dream with the bodies of four UPS delivery men scattered about the front lawn, and the phone I reached for to call 911 off the hook. Came straight down after that, about 10:30. 68F outside, overcast, looks like we had some rain. I posted Music Week blog late last night. Firefox was slow, so I did a software update, and restarted the machine. Now I have to reestablish my workspaces. I'm thinking maybe today I'll try setting up that Yahoo IMAP account. But first I need to fire up Firefox. Then work on the new jigsaw a bit. Then breakfast.

We went to a GLC event last night, with an Iranian who teaches electrical engineering at WSU. Like many Iranian expats, he assumes that most Iranians are anti-clerical and pro-Western, but he still takes a peculiar pride in how the regime is kicking Trump's ass. Part of it has to do with growing up looking at the world through Iran's 5,000 year history of civilization, often dominating its region, or even deeper the nation's identification with the Aryan race (without quite mentioning Reza Pahlavi's fondness for Hitler, although he did mention his role as a modernizer, his appreciation of Attaturk, and how the British sacked him, putting his weak-minded son nominally as head of state of a parliamentary monarchy, up to the 1953 coup that turned the Shah into a despot). I don't doubt that there is some truth to his views, and that the protests could transform an otherwise secure Iran into something else. But Netanyahu and Trump have short-circuited that: by attacking the whole nation, they've restored the legitimacy of the regime and its leaders, whose popularity has soared to such an extent that anti-regime expats like our speaker are taking some measure of pride in how they're kicking Trump's ass.

Email (285 in inbox). I need to finally work on fixing this.

• Substack: Music Week (9:3): +1 like.
• Caroline Borolla: Sent me a download link (I think) for the Human Hearts: Faith & Credit (Dromedary) [11-13]. Not what I asked for.

Caroline Borolla asked "what are your current outlets?" so I wrote:

I don't have a very good system for managing downloads, so I rarely ask for them. I don't need to listen to the new Human Hearts album until it's released (if then), so I'll save the email until later. What I was asking for was some kind of access to the back catalog items I mentioned (especially the EP, which Christgau really liked), on the off chance you could facilitate that. I realize it's not something you're actively promoting, but sometimes I've gotten lucky. No problem if not. Just thought I'd ask.

I've started a free Substack called Notes on Everyday Life, where I publish a shorter version of my Music Week blog posts, once a week. I'd appreciate a subscription: https://notesoneverydaylife.substack.com/ -- a recent post called "Consumer Guidance" explains the process and methodology (and madness?) better than I can here. The full unabridged, unexpurgated Music Week column still appears weekly on my website blog: https://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/index.php?t=Music-Week -- I can't guarantee that I'll write a serious review of everything I listen to, but I jot down some notes, make them public, and the ratings help remind me of what's worth recalling.

The website is built around a ratings database of some 46000 albums. I've been doing this a long time, and listening pretty widely. About 60% of what I listen to is jazz, at least since I wrote the Jazz Consumer Guide at the Village Voice. When that died, some publicists kept sending me records, so I kept writing about them. I manage the Jazz Critics Poll founded by Francis Davis, and published these days at Arts Fuse, so sometimes I write there, but generally I haven't found freelance to be worth the hassle. I do still "review" everything I get a CD of, and supplement that mostly by streaming, with the occasional download when I'm seeking out something specific.

Since my writing is readily available and voluminous, I assume that publicists can follow me, so I rarely notify them of posts. (There is an RSS on the website, and I post notices on X and Bluesky.) I do usually respond to letters such as yours, although lately email has been hell. Thanks.

I'm finally going to try to move my cox.com email from POP3 to IMAP. Steps, as I do them:

1. Under Server Settings for thull2@cox.net (server pop.mail.yahoo.com): Uncheck: Check for new messages at startup; Check for new messages every N minutes; Automatically download new messages (is this used if checking is disabled?).

2. I want to make a backup: Use Tools - Export: creating file ~/Thunderbird_profile_backup_20260920.zip. File size 5301070133 (5.3 GB).

3. I asked Yahoo for help here. It gave me the following:

   • Incoming server: imap.mail.yahoo.com
   • Port: 993
   • Connection security: SSL/TLS
   • Username: thull2@cox.net
   • Outgoing server: smtp.mail.yahoo.com
   • SMTP port: 465 or 587
   • SMTP security: SSL/TLS
   • SMTP authentication: enabled

   Yes, generate a new app password first and use it as the password in Thunderbird. Go to the Yahoo Account Security page, choose Create app password under External connections, name it something like "Thunderbird IMAP," then copy the generated password into Thunderbird.

   Thunderbird may also set up the secure sign-in method automatically when you add the account. Since you've already disabled POP checking, keep the old POP account in place only until you confirm the new IMAP account has downloaded the mail you need.

4. In my Yahoo account: Security - External Connections - Create app password: App name: Mingus Thunderbird IMAP. Password: byeffefwmczqewhq

5. Add the IMAP account: File - New - Email Account. Email address thull2@cox.net. Manual configuration: recommended IMAP. Set up my account. IMAP settings:

   • Hostname: imap.mail.yahoo.com
   • Username: thull2@cox.net
   • Authentication method: Autodetect
   • Connection security: Autodetect
   • Port: 993
   • Outgoing server: smtp.mail.yahoo.com
   • Authentication method: Autodetect
   • Connection security: Autodetect
   • Port: 465

   I clicked on Connect. Thunderbird found the correct settings and updated them. Authentication method (IMAP/SMTP) is: Normal password. Connection security: SSL/TLS. I clicked on Connect again. Now it's asking for password. I enter password. Remember password is checked. I click on Continue. Account created. It allows me to "explore options for security and personalization: End-to-end encryption; Email signature. I'm assuming I can deal with that later, so I click Finish.

6. I now have a new server folder tree for thull2@cox.net (IMAP). Inbox has 289 messages. Drafts 1.

7. SMTP tests are producing confusing results.

Daily Log

Woke up early, not quite clearing 5 hours, so 85 on the meter. Read more Acemoglu, getting into the paradox of toleration, whether one should tolerate others who would not tolerate you. Went back to bed, so I logged some more time, but didn't really sleep. Came down at 10:40. Cold front came through last night, delivering some rain. Temperature is 72F now, high forecast for 78F. Forecast is for highs in the upper 70s until it reaches 82 next Sunday. Should be good to do some work outside next week. I will feel some relief when the recycle is finally picked up on Tuesday. Bin has been packed full for several days now, as we accumulate more stuff elsewhere.

Thinking about Weird book. Wasted yesterday on 70s list, not even getting Music Week up, so that is first priority this morning. Playing Tom Zé right now. Laura wants to go to a GLC event tonight, where Ali Eslami talks about the Iran war.

Email (254 in inbox):

Music Week

Expanded blog post, September archive (in progress).

Tweet: Music Week: 34 albums, 6 A-list

Music: Current count 46602 [46568] rated (+34), 23 [25] unrated -2).

Advance Music Week appeared September 18 on Substack as Music Week (9:3). It is also archived here. My cutoff was done before the Substack post, but the introduction is revised/rewritten.

New records reviewed this week:

• Ralph Alessi: A Sun That Never Sleeps (2025 [2026], ECM): [sp]: B+(**)
• ALG Trio: Between the Vistula and the Hudson (2026, Aesthetiko): [sp]: A−
• Gilad Atzmon/Daniel Bulatkin/Taras Volos/Dušan Černák: Praying for More Songs to Come (2024 [2025], Hlava XXII): [sp]: B+(***)
• Baauer: U (2026, LuckyMe): [sp]: B+(**)
• Maja Babyszka/Gilad Atzmon/Nikos Sidirokastristis: In Memory of That Song (2024 [2025], Aesthetiko): [sp]: B+(**)
• Alain Bradette: To My Loved Ones (2026, Quantum Gravity): [cd]: B+(*)
• BTS: Arirang (2026, Big Hit): [sp]: B+(**)
• Todd DelGiudice: Mas Alto (2025-26 [2026], OA2): [cd]: B+(***)
• Louis Durra: Mood Music (2026, self-released): [cd]: B+(**)
• Christian Finger: Zeit Zirkel (2026, Finger Music): [cd]: B+(*) [10-01]
• Grex: Auntie + Tebs (2026, Geomancy): [bc]: B+(**)
• Rich Halley 4: A Distant Land (2025 [2026], Pine Eagle): [cd]: B+(***)
• Heat On: 150 Swirl (2025 [2026], Cuneiform): [dl]: B+(***)
• Noah Kahan: The Great Divide (2026, Mercury): [sp]: B+(*)
• Kiwi Jr.: Blowin' Up (2026, Perennial/K): [sp]: B+(**)
• Janel Leppin: The Realist (2024 [2026], Out of Your Head): [sp]: B+(***)
• Roberto Magris Trio: Live in Mexico City (2025 [2026], JMood): [cd]: B+(***)
• Syran Mbenza: Rumba Africa (2025, Hysa Productions): [sp]: B+(***)
• Rome Streetz: Sock It 2 My Pocket (2026, Mass Appeal): [sp]: B+(**)
• Nicolas Souchal/João Madeira/Bruno Parrinha: Parcours D'Impulsions (2025 [2026], 4DaRecord): [dl]: B+(*)
• Ross Stanley/Gilad Atzmon/Joel Barford: Organology (2025, Aesthetiko): [sp]: B+(***)
• This Is Lorelei: The Singer in My Band (2026, Matador): [sp]: B+(***)
• The Tubs: Hard Life (2026, Merge): [sp]: B+(*)
• Matt Wilson's Good Trouble: Love Is the Whole Thing, We Are Only Pieces (2026, Palmetto): [cd]: B+(**)

Recent reissues, compilations, and vault discoveries:

• Herb Geller/Roberto Magris: Come Lately: Archival Recordings 2009 (2009 [2026], JMood): [cd]: A−
• Roberto Magris: Live in Hollywood: Archival Recordings 2006 (2006 [2026], JMood): [cd]: A−
• Roberto Magris Europlane Quintet: Broken Barriers: Archival Recordings 2008 (2008 [2026], JMood): [cd]: A−
• Roberto Magris: Wind Summit: A Kansas City Jazz Session: Archival Recordings 2014 (2014 [2026], JMood): [cd]: B+(**)

Old music:

• The 5.6.7.8's: Best Hits of the 5.6.7.8's (1989-2014 [2019], Time Bomb): [sp]: B+(**)
• Chabuca Granda: Tarimba Negra (1978, Pronto): [sp]: B+(***)
• Hannibal and the Sunrise Orchestra: Hannibal (1975, MPS): [sp]: A−
• Thomas Mapfumo & the Acid Band: Hokoyo! (1978, Chimurenga Music): [sp]: A−
• Nass El Ghiwane: Disque D'Or (1973 [1998], Mélodie): [sp]: B+(***)
• Celestine Ukwu: Igede (1971 [2007], Premier): [sp]: B+(***)

Unpacking: Found in the mail last week:

• Rahsaan Barber: Eternal (Jazz City Music) [10-09]
• Daniel DeLorenzo: Can You Not (self-released) [09-01]
• Louis Durra: Mood Music (self-released) [07-12]
• Phil Haynes 2 Horns & What?: Avant Modern/Jazz Now (Corner Store Jazz, 2CD) [10-02]
• Carla Marciano: Daydreaming: My Beloved Father Giovanni (Challenge) [09-25]
• Angela O'Neill and the Outrageous 8: A Live Musical Tribute to Peggy Lee (Outrageous 8) [08-21]
• Julian Davis Reid and Circle of Trust: Mercy We Need (Too Lost) [09-25]
• Fumi Tomita: Yokai: Songs of the Japanese Supernatural (OA2) [10-16]
• Jerry Z: Break Allegro (Drawbar) [10-09]

Daily Log

Managed to stay up past 3 last night (watched another episode of Beyond Paradise; worked on jigsaw puzzle; failed again at my Mahjongg game). Slept until 11, logging 7:40, first time in a week or more I've been anywhere near 7 hours. Laura says she got 4 hours. She wanted to go to an event tonight, but has given up on that, as lack of sleep is consuming her entire life.

I still have sore throat, some cough, no fever, much depression. I sent Music Week (9:3) out last night. Blog MW delayed, as I've been working on the 1970s list, to link to. I should get that done this afternoon. Not much else to report. Front porch light literally went on the blink last night. I had one Amber BR30 E26 bulb left, so it was pretty easy to change it. (Did involve a ladder.) I'll order more.

Email (310 in inbox, fuck Yahoo!):

• Substack: Music Week (9:3): shareable assets; 7 likes; stats: 7 likes, 0 comments, 1 restack, 122 email views, 53 other views.
• Human Hearts has a new album in November. I wrote Borolla to complain about not being able to stream their old albums.
• Amazon: I ordered BR30 E26 Amber lightbulbs (3), after one on porch freaked out last night. No immediate need, but it's good to have replacement lightbulbs on hand.
• Tom Carson: Kash for Chaos; The Ballad of Mitzi Sobiewski.
• Chuck Eddy: When Elsie Met Elmer. Reminder that Brad Luen's 1996 poll ballots are due Sept. 30.
• "Unsung '90s midwest emo-shoegaze band nymb's entire reissued catalog out today!"

Daily Log

Even earlier to bed, even worse night, waking up after 8 when just under 6 hours of sleep. Read some, came down after 9. Light is so weird this time of day. When I get going, today will be the day for Music Week. Not sure what else. Well, groceries. I can say that it is a relief that the boil water advisory is over.

Email (276 in inbox, Friday is usually a big PR day, but it's still early):

• Substack: +1 subscriber.
• Matty Wishnow: The Christgau doc, The Last Critic, is coming to Wichita, Tallgrass Film Festival, Oct. 17-18. He's offering me tickets.
• Himanshu is pressing me to do website work. Lord knows I need some help. Too bad I'm too cheap.

Daily Log

I didn't sleep much better last night. Waking up so often alerted me to how little sleep Laura is getting. I got up after 8, read some, tried going back to sleep, couldn't. Came down, read some more. I'm writing this at 10:20. Checked and no changes on the boil water order, so we're still working around that, although I doubt the problem is real, and I'm not being super careful (using boiled water to drink and make ice, but washing my hands with soap in running water; dishes are mostly piling up). Tests not expected until this afternoon.

My throat is still scratchy. Other than lack of sleep and general stress, nothing else obviously wrong. Still in a stretch of 90+F days. Mostly worked on Loose Tabs yesterday. I should shift back to Weird book. Might also go ahead and post a Music Week. I don't think I'm relying much on Friday releases this week.

Email (still fucked, 236 in inbox; old inbox reduced to 4462):

• Substack: Music Week (9:2): +1 like.
• Mike Konczal: I Disagree With the Tax Foundation, Labor Share is Collapsing: Gettinto the guts of NIPA and what prop income really does when you include it.
• WordPress auto-updated for carolcooper.org, notesoneverydaylife.org.
• OR Books: Garrison Lovely: Obsolete: The AI Industry's Trillion-Dollar Race to Replace Us — and How to Stop It

Daily Log

Horrible fucking night. I forgot to take water up. Woke up several times during night, with dry mouth, nothing to drink. Got up at a bit after 8. Started to take my tylenol, but no water. Bathroom was occupied. I came down straight away, and took my pills. Laura came down later to feed dog. Says we're under a "boil water" advisory. No idea why. We had some water left in filter pitcher, so ok for now. Very down after yesterday. I'll probably just work on jigsaw today, at least to get going. Possible we could finish tonight.

Email (who fucking knows? or cares? 267 in inbox):

• Wichita Public Library: My two books — Artificial Intelligence All-in-One, and The Yahoo! Style Guide — have been renewed again, so are now due Oct. 16. I've yet to open either.
• OR Books: Julie Tilsen, Personal Responsibility, Inc.: How Psychotherapy Turns Society's Problems Into Yours.

• Amazon: I ordered socks, and a telescoping brush attachment for hose (intended for washing RV's, etc.). Latter has been shipped, so should be here. Socks, for some reason, take longer. I should get the Klein-Taylor book today. We saw their pitch on Democracy Now, starting with a promo video. I wasn't super-impressed.
• Tom Carson: My Ten Favorite Books About Movies
• RiotRiot: Rock and Roll, Well, Never Forgets: Making Village Voice's 9/11 Benefit Album

Daily Log

Woke up shortly after 9, but didn't get to writing this until after noon, so the short-term memory loss has already lost many details. Mostly worked on jigsaw puzzle, while listening to Herb Geller — getting a third play now. Good news is that WM picked up the garbage. This shouldn't have been a big deal, but Laura told me that pickup was delayed a day for Labor Day, when it evidently wasn't, so we had both garbage and recycle left over. Recycle is every other week, so we still have a full dumpster of that, and another week to wait before it goes away. We'll handle it, but it's been rough for me psychologically. I went shopping last week for an extra trash can and some bins so I can handle what I expect we'll have.

Bad news is that the upstairs toilet isn't filling properly. It's run slow for years, so I suppose a crisis point was inevitable. My next step will be to take out all of the apparatus and rebuild it. I doubt it's the supply hose, valve, or line. If it's the latter (mineral build up could constrict the line, but how likely is that?) I'll need a plumber. I'll check the pressure after I remove the fill valve, and if it's weak, I'll replace the shutoff valve and supply hose, but both problems seem unlikely. I had a hose break a few years ago, and the spray went all the way to the ceiling. We're going out this afternoon, so will stop somewhere. Meanwhile, we have pitchers and buckets that can be used to fill the tank. I'm not much of a plumber, but I've done this sort of thing several times.

Yesterday's big home improvement yesterday was changing a light bulb in the dining room. Needed a ladder, and the GU10 bulbs are hell to line up properly, although for the first time ever it went pretty easy. Also had to make a repair to the bathroom faucet, which required some physical contortion I'm still feeling. Laura has ear doctor today, so we'll go out for that, then possibly dinner and/or shopping. Hit 99 yesterday. Already well into the 90s today (94). Forecast is 96. Record is 103. Forecast is for 93-95-95-93, after which we get a cold front, storms, and 70s.

Probably Loose Tabs today, maybe Weird book. Email is still broken (inbox 250):

• Substack: Music Week (9:2): +1 like, +1 comment.

We went to Laura's ear doctor, then out for sushi, and shopping at Whole Foods. Car tire pressure light went on, back rear, but couldn't get any more information. I had a tire gauge in car, but it didn't turn on. Battery is probably dead. Looks ok, so I drove on it. Laura wanted to come straight home. It was raining. Didn't walk the dog. Didn't get anything done. Started watching The Marlow Murder Club.

Mar 2001